John Ensign: “Our Constitution specifically spells out only five instances where a supermajority is required and moving to…”

“Our Constitution specifically spells out only five instances where a supermajority is required and moving to consideration, and approval of the President's judicial nominees is not on that list. This list includes treaties, impeachment, expulsion of a Senator, overriding a Presidential veto, and adoption of a constitutional amendment. The spirit of our Constitution should mean something. It is in defense of our Constitution that we are taking these 30 hours. It has been said we are wasting our time. Defending our Constitution is not wasting the Senate's time. It is critical to this Senate. What the Senator from New Hampshire was just talking about--the Supreme Court nominees for whom he voted, even though they were different ideologically from him--if this process is allowed to continue, it is going to be 12, we know already, appellate nominees who are going to be blocked by filibuster--12 out of 41. If this is allowed to continue, we know next year it is going to be worse, and when the next Supreme Court nominee comes up, if it is Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Breyer or Rehnquist, those people would not be approved in the climate in the Senate today. Highly qualified people will not be able to make it on to the Supreme Court.”